GLO - Director of Engineering (Director IV)

The Texas General Land Office is seeking a Director of Engineering (Director IV) within the Information Technology Services Department of the agency.

Performs highly advanced (senior-level) managerial work directing enterprise application engineering and software development functions for the Information Technology Services department. Work involves providing direction and guidance in strategic operations and planning; establishing engineering goals and objectives; developing policies, procedures, and standards; coordinating and evaluating engineering activities; and overseeing resources that support enterprise application delivery and modernization.

Responsibilities include directing application engineering functions that support enterprise software solutions, application platforms, and digital services across the agency. This position establishes engineering standards, delivery practices, and performance measures to ensure applications are reliable, secure, scalable, and aligned with organizational priorities. The role also oversees application portfolio planning, resource management, and engineering practices that enable effective delivery of technology solutions supporting agency programs.

Works under general supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. This position supervises professional and managerial staff and collaborates closely with IT leadership and agency stakeholders to ensure application engineering services support mission needs, organizational priorities, and long-term technology strategy.

About the Information Technology Services Department

The Information Technology Services (ITS) team advances the mission of the Texas General Land Office through technology. We deliver secure, reliable, and innovative solutions that enable the agency to serve Texans efficiently and transparently. ITS operates with a growth mindset, committed to sustainability, operational excellence, customer service, and safeguarding the agency’s information resources. By leveraging modern cloud, automation, and data technologies, ITS drives efficiency, innovation, and resilience across the enterprise.

About the Role

The Director of Engineering plays a critical leadership role in directing enterprise application engineering and software delivery functions that support the mission of the Texas General Land Office. This position oversees the development, modernization, and sustainment of scalable, secure, and reliable application solutions across cloud, hybrid, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms, ensuring technology capabilities align with agency priorities and deliver measurable business value.

Operating within a product-oriented delivery model, this role works in close partnership with IT leadership, Product Management, and the Project Management Office (PMO) to deliver against a unified enterprise portfolio and roadmap. The Director of Engineering ensures alignment of priorities, capacity, and technical sequencing across initiatives, while establishing engineering standards, guiding architecture decisions, and advancing modernization strategies that emphasize cloud-first, low-code, and configurable solutions over custom development where appropriate.

Serving as both a strategic leader and hands-on technical guide, the Director of Engineering actively supports and develops engineering teams through complex delivery and transformation efforts. This role demonstrates strong technical judgment, leadership, and accountability while fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and high performance to ensure the delivery of sustainable, mission-critical technology solutions.

Our Mission:
The Texas General Land Office primarily serves the schoolchildren, veterans, and the environment of Texas. The agency does so by preserving our history, maximizing state revenue through innovative administration, and through the prudent stewardship of state lands and natural resources.

What Your Contributions to the GLO Will be:

·       Strategic People Leadership & Talent Strategy - Leads managers, senior individual contributors, or a combination of both by setting leadership expectations, supporting performance management, and guiding workforce and succession planning. Develops leadership capability and subject-matter expertise; aligns talent to strategic needs; and fosters a culture of accountability, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

·       Strategic Execution, Governance & Resource Alignment - Defines and oversees execution of strategies within assigned domains by establishing goals, priorities, standards, and performance measures. Aligns budgets, staffing, and resources to objectives; ensures compliance and governance; and monitors organizational performance to achieve agency outcomes

·       Application Engineering & Delivery Leadership - Directs application engineering and software delivery functions that support agency systems, digital services, and business applications. Establishes delivery standards and performance expectations to ensure applications are developed, maintained, and supported in a reliable, secure, and efficient manner aligned with agency priorities and mission-critical operations, in close partnership with Product Management and the PMO to ensure alignment with product roadmaps, delivery commitments, and prioritized business outcomes.

·       Architecture, Standards & Engineering Practices - Establishes and maintains engineering standards, architectural principles, and development practices that guide application design and implementation. Ensures consistency, scalability, maintainability, and alignment with enterprise technology standards, security requirements, and long-term sustainability of application solutions.

·       Engineering Planning, Prioritization & Resource Alignment - Leads engineering planning, prioritization, and resource alignment activities within the ITS portfolio to support organizational objectives. Oversees workload management and the use of internal and external resources to ensure effective and efficient delivery of work. Partners with Product Management, PMO, and rest of IT Leadership to support a unified product roadmap, ensuring alignment of priorities, capacity, and technical sequencing across the organization.

·       Stakeholder Collaboration & Organizational Alignment - Collaborates with IT leadership, agency executives, and business stakeholders to align application engineering services with organizational priorities. Facilitates cross-functional coordination to ensure application solutions support agency programs, operational needs, and mission outcomes, promoting a product-oriented operating model with shared ownership of outcomes across business, product, and engineering functions.

 

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in computer science, information systems, computer engineering, or a related field. Equivalent professional experience may substitute for the degree requirement at a rate of one year of relevant experience for each year of education.

Location Requirements: This position is based in Austin, TX. Candidates must be currently located in the Austin area or willing to relocate at their own expense. Relocation assistance is not provided. 

Preferred Qualifications:

·       Extensive experience leading enterprise application engineering or software delivery functions in complex organizational environments.

·       Experience operating within a product-oriented delivery model, including collaboration with Product Management and portfolio or program management functions.

·       Demonstrated experience leading application modernization efforts, including transitioning legacy systems toward cloud-based, software-as-a-service (SaaS), low-code, or cloud-native solutions.

·       Experience establishing technology strategies that emphasize cloud-first and configurable or commercial solutions, including build versus buy decision-making and implementation of platforms such as Salesforce, Drupal, Microsoft Power Platform, or similar technologies.

·       Experience working with cloud and integration platforms such as AWS, Azure, MuleSoft, or comparable enterprise technologies.

·       Demonstrated ability to lead and develop high-performing technical teams while managing cross-functional initiatives across business, product, and engineering stakeholders.

·       Experience with organizational planning, including capacity management, resource alignment, and prioritization across a portfolio of work.

·       Experience in public sector or government technology environments.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

·       Modern application architecture and engineering practices, including cloud-native, service-based, and API-driven design

·       Enterprise application modernization strategies, including SaaS, low-code platforms, and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions

·       Cloud and integration platforms such as AWS, Azure, MuleSoft, or similar enterprise technologies

·       Enterprise application ecosystems and platforms such as Salesforce, Drupal, Microsoft Power Platform, or comparable solutions

·       Product-oriented delivery models and Agile practices within enterprise environments

·       IT governance, security, and compliance practices related to application development and delivery

Skill in:

·       Leading engineering teams delivering across custom-built, SaaS, low-code, and COTS platforms

·       Aligning architecture and engineering execution with product strategy and business priorities

·       Evaluating and guiding build versus buy decisions and platform selection within enterprise environments

·       Providing hands-on technical leadership, including guiding design, reviewing solutions, and supporting teams through complex challenges

·       Coaching and developing engineers and managers to improve technical capability and delivery practices

·       Managing and prioritizing work across a unified portfolio and roadmap

·       Collaborating effectively across engineering, product, business, and executive stakeholders

Ability to:

·       Provide strategic direction for application engineering while remaining actively engaged in technical decision-making and delivery

·       Drive modernization through adoption of cloud-native, SaaS, low-code, and COTS solutions where appropriate

·       Align product strategy, business needs, and engineering execution into a single, integrated delivery model

·       Guide teams through transformation by reinforcing standards, demonstrating best practices, and improving engineering maturity

·       Balance priorities, capacity, and technical sequencing across a portfolio of work

·       Communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including executive leadership

·       Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement

Physical Requirements:

This position requires the employee to primarily perform sedentary office work; however, mobility (moving around the worksite) is routinely required to carry out some duties. This position requires extensive computer, telephone and client/ customer contact and communication. It requires the ability to move and position oneself as needed for filing and similar routine office duties. The job also requires normal cognitive abilities requiring the ability to learn, recall, and apply certain practices and policies. It requires the stamina to maintain attention to detail despite interruptions. Ability to read printed materials and computer screens. The individual must be able to move and transport records, documents, boxes, and all related information and materials, weighing up to 20 pounds when required.

Compensation and Benefits:

·       Free Parking

·       Defined Retirement Benefit Plan Optional 401(k) and 457 accounts

·       Medical Insurance - State pays 100% of the health plan premium for eligible full-time employees and 50% of the premium for their eligible dependents. The State pays 50% of the eligible part-time employees’ premium and 25% for eligible dependents.

·       Optional Benefits such as dental, vision, and life insurance.

·       Minimum of 96+ Hours of Annual Leave a year **Annual leave increases with length of service.

·       Professional Development Opportunities: The GLO offers numerous courses to help our employees grow using resources through LinkedIn Learning and our EAP provider.

Veterans:
Use your military skills to qualify for this position or other jobs! Go to www.texasskillstowork.com to translate your military work experience and training courses into civilian job terms, qualifications and skill sets. Also, you can compare this position to military occupations (MOS) at the Texas State Auditor's Office by pasting this link into your browser:

Military Crosswalk for Occupational Category - Program Management

 

How to Apply:

·       To be considered, please complete a State of Texas Application for Employment and apply online at www.workintexas.com or in the CAPPS Career Section.

·       You may apply for the job directly through the CAPPS Career Section. It is not necessary to apply both through Work in Texas and the CAPPS Career Section.

·       Applications must be fully completed with a detailed job history, including job title, employment dates, employer name, supervisor's name and phone number, and a summary of responsibilities. Incomplete applications may lead to disqualification. Please be aware that resumes will not be accepted in place of a completed application.

·       In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. 

·       A position utilizing this classification will be designated as security sensitive according to the Texas Labor Code, Section 301.042.  

·       Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.